Open Road Fund
Nexus Community Partners
$50,000
$50,000 wealth-building gifts for Black individuals in MN, ND, SD; annual Juneteenth opening.
The Open Road Fund is a community fund giving $50,000 wealth-building gifts to Black individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota (including the 23 Native nations whose territories are occupied by those states). Gifts may be invested in a business, real estate, education, debt reduction, or other wealth-building projects. The fund opens annually on Juneteenth and closed in late July 2026.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $50,000 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- $50,000 per recipient
- Deadline
- July 19, 2026
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- MN, ND, SD
Who qualifies
- Black person who is a descendant of African people kidnapped and subjected to chattel enslavement in the Americas
- Age 14 or older
- Resident of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or any of the 23 Native nations whose territories are occupied by those states
- Eligible uses include investing in a business, cooperative, investment portfolio, real estate, education, or debt reduction
- Previous awardees are not eligible
Who is not eligible
- Nonprofit organizations
- Individuals who are not Black descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- Residents outside MN, ND, SD, or the eligible Native nations
- Projects that could cause or support harm in communities
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Starting or growing a business
- Real estate acquisition
- Investment portfolio
- Education or skills training
- Debt reduction and wealth-building expenses
Ineligible expenses
- Starting nonprofit organizations
- Primarily charitable giveaways
- Political campaigns
- Projects that cause community harm
How to apply
-
1
Review eligibility and application questions
Confirm you meet ancestry, geography, and age requirements and read the downloadable application questions.
~1 hrs
-
2
Submit Part 1 registration application
Complete the online registration application when the fund opens on Juneteenth.
~1 hrs
-
3
Complete Part 2 project plan if selected as finalist
Finalists have one month to create a detailed wealth-building project plan.
~3 hrs
-
4
Confirm participation if selected
Respond within 10 calendar days if selected as an awardee.
~0.25 hrs
The selection process is randomized from the eligible pool, so completeness and thoughtfulness matter more than polished grant writing; answer honestly and confirm eligibility before investing time in the project plan.
Deadline & timing
Opens annually on Juneteenth (June 19) and closes in late July. Next expected window: June 19 – July 19, 2027.
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Required documents
- Online application
- Identifying documents to verify identity
- Detailed wealth-building project plan (if finalist)
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